Gas-engine.



H. COOPER,

GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1120.2, 191 0. 1,018,481 Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

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11. cooPBR'. GAB EXGIHE. AH'LIUAIfIOl HLBD DBO. i, 1910.

Panama 1111.211912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wf/fr PATENT carica HERBERT COOPER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

GAS-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1,912.

Application ledDecember 2, 1910. Serial No. 595,201.

To all whom it may concern: y,

Bc it known that I, HERBERT COOPER, "a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of 5 New York, have invented a new and useful' Improvement in' GasEngines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention 'relates to an' improvement in gas engines, particularly to the kind used in drivingautomobiles. and coats There are two general types of' gas engines in use for this purpose. The sopalled tivo-cycle engines are operated without the use of -valve mechanism, and are simple in con struction. Engines of the sti-called teun cycle type require valve mechanism Ain their operation, and are comparatively complicated in construction. Considerable ditliculty is experienced with both types in keeping them up to their rated etliciency. This is partly due ,to the fact that ail the 'burned gas remaining in the cyiinders after an eX- plosion is not removed before a fresh charge of gas is introduced into the cylinder.. This detect is-more prominent in the two-cycle en gine than in the tour-cj'f'cle engine, but in the Alatter the percentage of burned gas remailling in 'the cylinder excessive and interferes seriously with the eiiiciency of the engine. The high speed which he present engines are ordinarily run results in rapid and excessive wear of the valve mecha- .nism and other parts, and derangement of the various parts frequently occurs. Moreover, unskiltul handling of such engines frequentlyresults in improper adjustment of t-he engine parts and operating `.mechanism, and consequent inefficient operation.

It is highly desirable that a gas engine should run constantly at its highest possible degree of eiiiciency for upon this eiliciency economy of operation depends, and upon economy of opera-tions depends the success of the-engine for commercial purposes. It is also highly desirable thatsuch engines should be so constructed that complicated mechanism is avoided without sacrificing any of the advantages of the present engines. It is. further desirable that the valve mecha nism of such engines should be iso constructed that readjust-nient is unnecessary Aand tampering practically impossible.

It is one of the objects of the present inyention, thereforet o produce 'a gas, engine- 1n which the percentage of, hurried gas re is reduced to a minimum.

A further object isthe production of an engine'in which the valve mechanism islvery simple, free from the excessive wear found in 'present engines, and completely housed so that unskilful handling and tampering are impossible.

A further object is the production of an engine in which the valve mechanism is operated automatically by the pressure set up in the cylinders during the gas compression period. j

Still another object is the production of a valve mechanism which is self contained and may he removed from the engine Without disturbing any adjustment lthereof, and which also serves as 'a tie or stay between the cylinders.

Viithl these and other objectsnot specifically mentioned in View, the invent-ion consists in certain constructions and combinations which will he hereinafter "fully described and then specifically pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

form a part of this specilication 'andf in which likev characters of reference indicate the same o r likeparts, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly sectional, of a multi-cylinder gas engine oi the horizontal opposed -cylinder type constructed in accordance with the the structure shown 1n Fig. 1 with one set of cylinders omitted, Fig. 3 lis a sect-ion taken enlarged sectional view of one of the scavenging relief valves and its connections.

In carrying the invention into eiiect, there is provided a pair, orin certain constructions more than one pair, of cylinders, and these cylinders may Vary Wit-hin wide .limits The device selected to illustrate the tand-em opposed cylinder type, lout-it is to be clearly understood that the invention may be embodied in any type of engine are used. As shown,"there is provided a crank case 1 having bearings 2 in which a. crank-shaft 3 is journaled in a well known manner.- yond the crank case and upon its projecting end, 'a fly wheel 4 is secured. Upon one side of the crank case 1 are mounted two tan- In the accompanying' drawings Which invention is a multi-cylinder engine of the.

Where .tWo,-or a multiple of two, cylinders The cra-nk shaft 3 projects be' maining in the cylinders after an explosion I' invention, Fig. Qjis a sectional plan 'view of on the `line '3-3 in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is an dem cylinder castings 5 and 6, bolted to the case and provided with water jackets 7 and 8 of well known construction, each casting inclosing a pair of tandem cylinders. Similarly, upon Ythe opposite side of the crank case, like'cylinders 9, only one oi' which is shown, are mounted. It may be here remarked that all of the cylinders are alike, except that their intake ports are oppositely positioned, and va description of one, in connection with the drawings, is deemed suiiicent to enable theirA construetion to be fully understood. The cylinder casting 5 is bored to form two tandem cyl` inders 10 and 11 within which a single acting piston 12 works. This piston, like the cylinders, is of two Ydilferent diameters,- and it is to be understood that the effective area of the two piston heads is equal, so that the impulses of't-he pist-on are equal as charges are alternately exploded in the cylinders behind it. The pistonr isconnected with the crank 13 of the shaft 3 by means of a conneet-ing rod lll pivoted on a pinA 15 within the piston in the usual manner. The cylinder 10 is provided, at a point adjacent its head, with an'intake chamber 16. `Similarly, the cylinder 11 is provided with an intake chamber 17. A passage 18 affords open communication between 'the intake chamber 16 and the interior of the cylinderA 10,y and apassage 19 atl'ords open eo1nmunication' between Vthe intake chamber 17 and the interior of the cylinder 11. The cyli4nder 10 is provided with an exhaust port 20 but through its wall and leading to an exhaust pipe 21. Similarly, the cylinder 11 is provided with an exhaust port 22 cut through'itswall and leading to an exhaust pipe 23. The intake chamber 16 is provided with a threaded aperture 24 in which a spark plug 25 is screwed. All the intake chambers of all the cylinders are similarly provided with like apertures and spark plugs. The construction so far described does` not ditl'er materially from other constructions well known in the art, and since the operation of such structures is well understogd, and since a more4 detailed description of the several cylinders is not necessary to a i'ull understanding ot the present invention, it is omitted in the interest of clearness and brevity.

lV hen a charge ot gas within one of the cylinders is fired, the piston is driven toward the crank shaft by the impulseot the exploded gas. This impulse and n'iovemcnt coritinue until the piston has traveled far enough to open the exhaust port inthe wall of the cylinder. The greater part ot the burnedgas then escapes through the wall exhaust port. As the piston travels back toward the cylinder head, the exhaust port is closed and a portion of the burned gas is trapped in the cylinder. This gas has lost its impulse producing power, but if pern'iitted to remain within the cylinder will l'oul the next charge and reduce the eiliciency thereof. lf cleared out by in4 coming fresh gas, as in certain twocyele engines, the desired result is obtained by a waste of fresh gas 'which is fatal to economical operation. li cleared out by means oi mechaniczidly Ioperated exhaust valve mechanism, in certain i'ourecyrle engines, a percentage of burned gas too Igreat -tor economical operation remains in the cylinder, and the excessive wear ot the valve mechanism contributes to the inefficiency ot the engine from an. economical commercial standpoint.. It is very important that the burned gas be expelled without waste ot fresh and without the employment ot complicated valve mechanism. ysidoject to excessive wear, breakage and derangement. Each cylinder is therefore provided with what may be termed a scavenging port through which the burned gas is expelled during the return stroke of the piston. While,in certain constructions within the invention, this port may be located in the head of the cylinder, and the clearance between the piston and cylinder heads reduced to a minimum,` in the device selected to illustrate the invention, each cylinder is provided with a scavenging port 26 cut :through thewall of the intake chambers 16 and 17 before referred to, opposite the spark plugs Q5, and. adjacent the cylinder head.

Automatically operated valve mecianism is employed in connection with the scavenging ports, whereby burned gas trapped in the cylinders during Athe return stroke of the pistons, is expelled, and this mechanism may vary within wide limits, and be variously mounted. ln the best constructions, for the purpose of housing the valve mecha nism to prevent tan'ipering therewith and to prevent accidental injury thereto, a casing is employed. While this casing may in certain constructions be formed in the cylinder casting itself; in the device shown, a casingr 27 is employed, and this casing is spaced from and lies below the cylinders with its axis parallel with theaxis of the cylinders. lt to be understood, however, that when a casing is employed, the parallelism ot the axes of the casing and cylinders is not essential and is used in the device shown -nlcrely because it happens to be the most 4to slide in a bearing 58 torino-d within the casing. 4 The valve 28 cof'iperates with a valve seat'34, and the valve 29 cooperates with a valve seat also formed within the ing ports of the cylinders, connections are provided between Ythe valvemechanism and open the port of the other cylinder to pen,

pipe connection at the left of the ligure will limits. vAs shown, pipe connections are em- 4terior of the casing outside the valves, and

"plugs 1s toafford access to the interior of the casing so that the valve mechanism may IIn the best constructions, a check valve chamber 46 having an outlet 47 @pento the atmosphere.

.between the outlet 47 andthe port controll casing. These valves control the scavengi ing ports 26 ;,that is to say, they control the flow of gas through the ports, and are arranged and adapted to always leave one port open. E

'For the purpose of operating the valve mechanism to alternately open the scavengthe cylinders whereby pressure within one cylin er roperates the valve mechanism. to'

-mit the escape of trapped gas therefrom, and these connectlons may vary within wide ployed` so that-gas under pressure within one cylinder will act directly upon the valve mechanism to throw the valves, one to 'closed position and the vother to open position. These pipe connections consist in bosses 36 and 37V projectingV upwardly from the body ofthe casing 27, and unions 38 and connecting the bosses witn the scavenging ports 26. This lconstruction provides an ab. ty: open passage from each. cylinder the it Will be readily understood,I by an 1inspection of Fig. 4, that gas ressure within Athe drive the valve mechanism tov the position shown, closing the passage from the left are' provided with. apertures ciosed byscrew plugs 40. The only function of these be inserted therein.

Mechanism is vprovided for preventing intake lof air throughA the scavenging ports after burned gas has been expelled, this mechanism may lvary within 4wide limits.

mechanism will be used for this purpose.

A s shown, two spring pressed check valves i 41 and 42 arey employed. These valves opcrate'independently, andindependent of the port controlling valve mechanism. Tite check valve 41 cooperates with a valve seat 43, and the check valve 42 coperates with a valve seat 44, both of which seats are formed in the wall of the casing 27 below the port controlling valve mechanism. The' check valve 41 controls the passage from what may be termed a valve chamber 45 to an outlet Similarly, the check valve 42 controls the passage from a valve chamber 48 to the outletchamber 46. vIt will be notedthat the check valve mechanisln lies part of 'the ling valve mechanism. This, however, is

.not essential. In certain'constructions, it

piston common to both cylinders 10 and 1l will be driven inward toward.A the crank vshaft. 3. At this time, the smaller partof the piston coperating .with the cylinder 10 is drawing fresh gas into the cylinder 10 through the intake chamber 16 and port 18 before referred to. The intake valve mechanism will .oe hereinafter fully described. lVhen the piston has traveled far enougli to open the wall. exhaust port 22, the greater burned gas within the cylinder ll; will escape. Atthe same time, a smallv .quantity of free air will be admitted through the wallexhaust port 20 to the cylinder 10, now completely iilled with a fresh charge. As the piston travels on its return stroke, the fresh charge of heavy mixture will be compressed in the cylinder 10. This pressure will be communicated. through the scavenging port 2G at the left7V Fig. 4, tc the interior of the casing 2'? outside the valve'28. This pressure will throw the valvesL'S and 29 to.

tThis opens a passage for the light burned gas lthrough the right scavenging port 26, from the cylinder 11 to the outlet chamber yand outet- 47, the check valve 42 being automatically opened by the moving burned 'gas'. When the piston has completed its return stroke, the fresh charge in the cylinder l() is completelycompressed and read for firing, and the cylinder 11 is ready to receive a new charge. The charge in cylinder l0 is new iired, and the piston again starts toward the crank shaft, the pressure of the exploded gas still holding the valve 28 against its seat andthe valve 29 open. The piston is now drawing a fresh charge into the-cylinder ll. The scavenging port of this cylinder is open, but the check valve 42 has closed and prevents intake of; air through the port 26 while the charge is being drawn -into the cylinder. It will be noted and r'eadilyunderstood from t-he foregoing that an explosion takes place ineach of the tandem cylinders at every revolution of the crank shaft, that the action of the valve mechanism is entirely automatic and dependent only upon the pressure.withinthe cylinders, and that the valve mechanism it.- Y

self is extremely sim le, thorouo'hl rotected and highly eiiicidnt. D y p It is highly desirable, in anengine used for motive power, that its construction be as light as possible without sacrificing 'strength and rigidity. Heretofore, in thev construction of multi-cylinder engines, it has been customary to tie the cylinders together, either With a heavycasting including all 'the cylin ders, or by means of a system of stays or braces. In both cases, the valve mechanisms for the cylinders mounted. upon t .le frame, and independent adjustments thereof have been necessary. li`urthern'iore, a portion at least of the valve mechanisms have b to injuryrdiie to breakage or derangenient. For the purpose of providing a tie for the cylinders which shall be light but strong and serve also as a housing for the valve mecha. nism, eliminating entirely the necessity for independent, adjustment of the valves and the liability to injury, a pair of cylinders is employed having oppositely disposed abutmeiits, and between these abntments is lo cated a chambered block containing the valve mechanism and an intake passage controlled by the valve mechanism, the block being adapted to engage the abutinents in such a I Way as to tie the cylinders rigidly together.

These abutnients and the block may vary Within wide limits. As shown, however, each of a pair of cylinders is provided with a 'converging abut-nient 50 provided With a dovetail slideway, Figs.. 2 and 3.V These abutnients cross the intake chambers 16 and 17 before referred to, and the chambers and ports 1S and 19 providej passages through the abutineiits to the interior of the cylinders, or what i'nnay be termed abutment ports. There is provided a clianibered block 51 hav ing converging sides engaging the dovetail slideways of the abuttients and thereby holding the cylinders in rigid spaced rela-V tion to each other.` The block is held in position by means of screws 52 threaded into the cylinder castings, or by equivalent means.

parallel. The chamber within the block is provided with an inlet opening 53 through which mixture reaches the chamber from a suitable source of supply not shown. The block is provided willi a port or ports adapted to register with the Iabut-meut port or ports, and these ports may vary within wide limits. As shown, however, a pair of tandem cylinders are used and when a pair of tandem cylinders are used, there is pro vided a. plurality of sets of ports in coinmunication with the chamber of the block and adapted to register with a plurality of oppositely positioned abutment ports.

Valve mechanism ontrolling the block ports is provided, and this mechanism may vary within wide limits". lVhen however. and as shown, cylinders having oppositely positioned intake ports are employed, the valve mechanism consists in a pair of spring connected valves 54 and 55, or a plurality A of sets of such valvcs the valve stems being have been independentlyl in exposed and are liable derstood that a partial vacuum producedl within either one of a of cylinders will open the valve nearet the eylln iler against the action of the si ng' connecting it with the other valve and draw in. through the port from the chambered block to the cylinder.

For the pun-pose of permitting the withdraw al of the block `Without in any Way dis-` turbing the valve mechanism, the bloclr.I is proi'fided with external recesses 57 registering with the block and abutment ports. The valves lie in these recesses and within the limits of the block, and come away with the block when the latter is withdrawn -iillrom its position. This permits ready access to the intake ports of the cylinders, and equally ready access to-the valves themselves.

In view of the foregoing, a detailed de scription of the operation oit the device is deemed unnecessary'and is therefore omitted @titl valves controlling the ports, and connections between the valve mechanism and cylinders whereby pressure within one cylinder 1t is of course to be linderstood that thegjoperates the valve mechanism to open the abutincnts may `in certain constructions be` port of the other cylinder.

2. The combination with a pair of cylinders yeach having a scavenging port adjacent nec-ted valves supported by the casing and controlling the ports, and coi'inections be- +L The combination with a pair of cylin ders each having a scavenging port adJacent its head, of a casing below the cylinders, a pair of rigidly connected valves supported by the casing and controlling the ports, and connections between the casing and cylinders whereby pressure Within one cylinder operates the valve mechanism to open the port of the other cylinder.

5. The combination with a pair of cylinders each having a .scavenging port adjacent its head, of a casing, a pair of rigidly connected valves Within the casing, and connections between the casing and cylinders whereby pressure Within one cylinder operates the valve mechanism to open the port of the other cylinder'.

G. The combinationA with a pair of cylinders cach having a scavenging port adjacent its head, of a casing, a pair oit' rigidly connected valves within the casing and con-` .valves controlling the ports, connections hetween the valve mechanism and cylinders whereby pressure Within one cylinder operates the valve mechanism to open the port of the other cylinder', and mechanism preventing intake of air through the ports.

8. The combination With a pair of cylinders each having a scayenging port adjacent its head, of a valve mechanism controlling the ports, connections between the valve mechanism and cylinders whereby pressure within one cylinder operates the valve mechanism to open the port of the other cylinder, and mechanism independent oi the valve mechanism preventing intake of air through y the ports.

9. The combination with a pair of cylinders each having a scavenging port adjacent its head, of a casing, valve mechanism supported b y the casing and controlling the ports, connections between the casing and cylinders whereby pressure Within one cyl-4 inder operates -thevalve mechanism to open the port of the other cylinder, and niechef nism independent of and supported by the casing for preventing intake of air through the ports.

10. The combination with a pair of cylinders cach having a scavenging port adjacent its head, of a casing, valve mechanism within the casing and controlling the ports, pipe connections between the casing and cylinders whereby pressure Within one cylinder operates the valve mechanism to open the port of the other cylinder, and mechanism independent of the valve mechanism and carried Within the casi ng for preventing in take of air tlnongh the ports.

ll. The combination with a pair of tandem cylinders each having a scavengingr port adjacent its head, of a casing the axis of which lies parallel Withthe axis of the cyl lcasing inders, a pair of -rigidly connected valves controlling the ports and supported by the casing, and connections between the casing and cylinders whereby pressure within one cylinder. operates the valve mechanism to open the port of the other cylinder.

12. The combination with a. pair of cylinders-each having a scavenging port adjacent its head, of a pair of rigidly connected valves controlling the ports, and connections between the valves and cylinders whereby pressure within one cylinder operates theI ,valve -inechanism to open the port of the other cylinder. 4

. 13. The combination with a pair of cylinders each having a scavenging port adjacent its head, of a` pair of rigidly connected valves controlling the ports, connections beltween the valves and cylinders whereby pressure `within onel cylinder operates the rali-'e mechanism to open the port of the other cylinder, and mechanism preventing intake ot' air through the ports.-

lli. The combination with a pair of cylinders each having a scavenging port adjacent its head, of a pair of rigidly connected valves controlling the ports, connections between the valves and cylinders whereby pressure within one cylindres-operates the valve mechanism to open the port of the other cylinder, and check valve mechanism preventing intake ot' air throngh the ports.

l5. The combination with pair oi' cylind each having a scavenging port adjacent its head, of a pair of rigidly connected tween the valves and cylinders-whereby pressure within one cylinder' operates the valve mechanism to open the port of the other cylinder, and independently operating check valves preventing intake 'or' air through the ports. A

i1 t3. The combination with ay pair of cylinders c its hifd, of a casing having an outlet, a valve mechanism contro-lling the ports. connections between the casing and. cylinders whe y pressure within cylinder operates the valve mechanism to open the port ot 'the other cylinder, an; mechanism between the casing outlet the. ports preventing intake of air through the ports,

l?. The combination with a pair of cylinlcrs each having a scavenging port adjacent head, of a casing having an. outlet, a valve mechanism within the casing and con# trolling the ports, connections between the and cylinders whereby pressure within one cylinder operates the valve mechanism to open the port of the other cylinder, and a' pair ot check valves within the casing and between the outlet and ports' for preventing intake of air through the ports.

18. The combination with a pair of cylinders each having a scavenging port adjavalves controllingv the ports, connections be-v h having a scavengingport adjacent cent its head, of a easing having an outlet, valve mechanism Within the casing and controlling the ports, connections between the casing and cylinders whereby pressure Within one cylinder operates the val've mechanism to open the port of the other cylinder, and a pair of check valves within the casing and liietween the outlet and valve mechanism for preventing intake of air through the ports. y,

19. The combination with a pair of cyle inders each having a scavenging port adjacent its head, of a casing having an outlet, a pair oit rigidly connected valves within the casing and controlling the ports, connections between the casing and cylinders whereby pressure within one cylinder operates the valves to open the port ot' the other cylinder, and a pair of independently operating check valves Within the casing and between the outlet and ports for preventing intake of air through the ports.

20. The combination with a pair of cylinders each having a scavenging port adjacent its head, of a casing having an outlet and the axis of which lies parallel with the axes of the cylinders, a. pair of-rigidly coni nected valves within the casing and control-- ling the ports, connections between the cas-f ing and cylinders whereby pressure within oney cylinder operates the valves to open the port of the other cylinder, and a pair of check valves Within the casing and between the outlet and ports for preventing intake of air through theports.

21. The combination with a pair of tan dem cylinders each having a. scavenging port adjacent its head, of a casing having an ontlet and the axis oit which lies parallel with the axis ofthe cylinders, a pair ci rigidly connected valves slidable withiinthe casing and on its axial line and contolling the iorts connections between the vcasinfr and 3 C' cylinders whereby pressure within one eylinder operates ythe valves tc open the port of the other cylinder, and a pair of `check valves Within the casing and, between. the outlet and ports for preventing int-alie of air through the ports.

The combination with a pair oil tandem cylinders each having a scavenging port adjacent its head,` of a casing having an outlet and the axis of which lies parallel with the axis of the cylinders, a pair of rigidly connected valves `slidable within the casing and on its axial line and controlling the ports, pipe connections betvveen the casing and cylinders whereby pressure Within one cylinder operates the valves to open the ort of the other cylinder, and a pair of c eck valves within the casing and working at right angle to the axis of the casing be! tween the outlet and valves for preventing intake of air through the ports.

23. The combination with 'a pair of cylinders each having a scavenging port adjacent its head, of a casing provided-With a pair of valve chambers and an outlet cha1nber common to both valve chambers, pipe connections between the casing and cylinv ders, valve mechanism within the casing and operated alternately in opposite directlons by pressure Within the cylinders and pipe connections to alternately open the ports oit the cylinders to the valve chambers.

24. The combination with a pair of cylinders each having a scavenging port acent its head, of a casing provided with Va pair of valve chambers and an outlet chamber common to both valve chambers, pipe connections between the casing and cylinders, valve mechanism within the casing and operated alternately 'in opposite directions by pressure within the cylinders and pipe connections to alternately open the cylinder ports to the valve chambers, and a pair of check valves .alternately preventing intake of air through the ports.

Q5. The combination with a pair of cylinders each having a scavenging port adjacent its head, of a casing provided with a pair ot valve chambers and. an outlet chamber common to both valve chambers, pipe connections between the casing and cylinders, a pair of rigidly connected valves sliding within the casing and operated alternately in opposite directions by pressure within the cylinders and pipe connections to alternately open the cylinder ports to the valve chambers, and a pair of check valves alternately 'ireven ting intake of air through the ports.

In testimony whereof, .l have signed my naine to this specification in the presence of tivo subscribing witnesses.

FRANK H. Viton, Jr., C. E. MARTIN. 

